Time delay switch



June 24, 1941. l.. URIGA 2,247,038

TIME DELAY SWITCH Filed March 18, 1936 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 ift-N :mgl-ima.

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INVENTOR.: L. Urtga.

In." #muy June 24, 1941. I l. URIGA l 2,247,038

TIME DELAY SWITCH Filed latch 18. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fly 6 VVENTOR.:

' LuUrLlZ- Patented June 24. 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application Maren 1s, 193s', serial No. "69,461

In Germany June 6, 1934 voisins. Y (ci. zoo-rcs) The invention relates to improvements in timedelay switches, meaning such switches in which the circuit connection is eiected by hand and which disconnect the circuit automatically after the lapse of a certain interval of time. In order to regulate the time of delay mechanical clockworks or pneumatic pistons or bellows have been applied, whereby particularly complicated devices were required for performing the instantaneous interruption as is imperative for disconnecting electrical switches. 'I'he present invention makes use of a suction-cup whichunder the nuence of a'counter-spring-will jump oi instantaneously and automaticallykas soon as the sucking effect has become insufiiicent. and the invention also provides devices for enabling one to predetermine exactly the time-interval of the connection.

Another object of the invention is to regulate or ilx the delay-time by means of an air-channel leading to the hollow space which is formed by the suction-cup and its counter-plate. when either of these is pressed against the other for the purpose of completing the circuit by closing the contact. Through this air-channel the hollow space illls slowly with air within the predetermined time, whereupon the section-cup will Jump of! and break the circuit. The channel has adjustable devices for throttling in order to be able to regulate the time-interval for the inilux oi air.

A further object of the invention is to ensure the suction eiIect by providing a projecting ring on the counter-plate, upon which the overlapping rim of the suction-cup is pressed down, thus forming an' entirely tight closure of the hollow space between suction-cup and counter-plate. 'Ihe channel leading into the hollow space, or the edge between the ring-andthe suction-cup can possess a minute opening of unadjustable or denite width, and the regulation of the timedelay may then be eil'ected by providing the movable part with adjustable touching projections destined to limit the depth to which the suctioncup can be pressed against its counter-plate or vice-versa.

A further object of the invention `is to obtain instantaneous circuit-completion under all condi.. tions by means of a hinged contact plate which is connected to the movable contact member by means of elastic links or springs. .This contact member is brought from the open to the closed position instantaneously assoon as the force of the elastic connection surpasses the force of means provided for retaining the contact plate in its open position. In this manner both the completing as well as the breaking oi the circuit will be eiiected instantaneously, even if the pressure brought upon the contact member is exerted slowly.

Further details of the invention are described hereinafter and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, which show diierent kinds of switches according to the invention.

In the drawings is: I

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the switch in the direction I-I of Fig. 3, i

Fig. 2 is a view from above upon the lower part of the switch, v

Fig. 3 a view from above upon the switch,

Fig. 4 a vertical section through'a different form oi executing the switch,

Fig. 5 a vertical section in part, through another Iorm of executingthe switch,

Fig. 6 a vertical section through a further form of executingv the switch in open position,

Fig. 7 a view from above uponvthe switclroi Fig. 6, i part section,` when the covering cap is removed.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the switch of Fig. 7 in closed position,

Fig. 9 is a further modied form of execution, in n Y tion-cup 2 is xed to the socket 4 which is lodged movably in the opening 5 oi the covering cap i. In the socket 4 there is ilxed a disk 1 to which is fastened the screw-bolt I of the push-button 8. A spring Il surrounds the socket 4 which is prevented from twisting by a longitudinal slot II. The suction-cup 2 is clasped by a contact spring I2 fastened to the cap i by means of the screw I2 and whose iront end bearing the contact-plate Il is capable of creating a connection between the contacts Il and It. The suction-cup 2 is penetrated by an air-channel Il which is closed from above by a plate It pressed by the screw I. Between the suction-cup 2 and the plate Il there is inserted' a thread I9. A detentlever 2| is loosely held by the screw 2l on the bottom-plate I. A ratchet-lever 22 is ilxed movably at the point 22 oi' the cap C and can be inserted into a slot 24 of the opening 5 when the button 9 has been pressed down.

The device is acting as follows: l

By exerting a pressure upon the button 9 the switch can be pushed down into the closed position shown in broken lines. In this position the suction-cup 2 covers the ring 4 and is retained there by the eect of the suction. The contactplate I4 will then connect the contacts I5 and I6 with each other. Air is slowly entering through the channel I1 into the hollow space between the cup 2 and the counter-plate I, until the suction-eiect of the cup becomes inferior to the force of the tension-spring I0. In this moment the suction-cup jumps oi and the circuit is broken abruptly.

The volume of the entering air-current and consequently the time-interval of the delay can be regulated by means of the screw 8 which presses the plate I8 more or less tightly against the mouth of channel I1. The thread I9 has the eiect that this opening can never be closed completely. If the switch is intended to keep the circuit permanently closed the button 9 is pressed down and the lever 22 then pushed home, so that it blocks the backward movement of the button. If-on the other hand a breaking of the circuit is required before the lapse of the delay-time, the lever 2I is pressed .thereby lifting up the edge of the suction-cup 2 from the projection 3, thus allowing much air to enter into the hollow space and causing the suction-cup to jump oil immediately.

In the example according to Fig. 4 .the suction-cup 2 is permanently screwed on the bottom-plate I by means of a bolt 25, a spacing or distance-collar 25 and the nut 21. The inner part of the push-button 28 forms the counterplate and is provided with the projection 3 to which the suction-cup 2 attaches itself by suction as soon as the button 28 is pushed down against the tension of .the spring 29. The circuit between the contacts I5 and I6 is closed by the contact pieces 30. The air enters into the hollow space of the suction-cup through the chinks between the bolt 25 and the tube 216; the ilze of the opening can be adjusted by the screw In the example according to Fig. 5 the airchannel 32 is provided in the movable counterplate 33 and is closed by anlndia-rubber plate 34. The latter is arranged within a ltering 35, e. g. made of felt, and is pressed against the opening 32 by a forcinglever 36 which is held on one side by a nut with counter-nut and bolt 31 and on the other side on the bolt 39.by an adjustable screw 38 provided with an index-finger. Below the screw 39 there is a dial 49. The room for the adjusting device is closed at the top by a covering lid 4I which can be screwed on. After having once correctly adjusted the nuts 31, this arrangement will allow by twisting the index-finger screw 38 above the dial 40 to determine as delay-time that interval of time, which can be read off the dial 40.

In the switch according to Figs. 6-8 the suction-cup 2 is not connected immediately to the contact member. In this case the contact member consists of the plate 42 hinged movably at the axle 44 and bearing at its front end the surface 43 closing the circuit between the contacts I5 and I6. The axle 44 is xed tothe bridge 53 which holds also the suction-cup 2. The pushbutton 45 is screwed into the socket 4 bearing the suction-cup 2, with its lower end 46 being provided with a worm. One arm 41 of a spring,l

the other end of which is connected to the plate 42 by means of the branches 48, gears into the lower part of the socket 4. An arresting spring 49 retains the plate 42 in open position. The detent-lever 2I is held by the spring 5I! which is supported by the axle 44.

The switch according to Figs. 6-8 acts as follows:

When the 'button 44 is pushed down together withthe suction-cup 2, the spring 49 will rst hold the plate 42 in the open position. Only when the suction-cup 2 is firmly attached to counter-plate I, the force of the sole spring 41 is su'ciently large to overcome the force of the arresting spring 49. The plate 42 will then assume abruptly the closed position as shown in Fig. 8. When, after the inux of air into the hollow space, the suction-cup under the iniiuence of the counter-spring I0 is jumping off suddenly, the plate 42 all of a sudden will turn just as abruptly into the open position of Fig. 6 and the circuit is broken.

'I'he adjustment of the length of time for the delay is performed by twisting the push-button I5V whereby the plate I8 is pressed more or less tightly against the mouth of the air-channel I1. The socket 4 is guarded against twisting, as may be seen from Fig. 7, by its lower part- 5I being formed quadrangularly and placed in a gap 52 of the plate 42.

In the example of Fig. 9 the bridge has a socket-like upper extension 54, the end of which forms touching surfaces for the push-button 45. With this arrangement it is possible to vary the depth'to which the socket 4 together with the suction-cup 2 can be pressed down, by twisting the knob 45 Through an adjustable or definite leak, e. g.

a minute rift or ssure in the projection 3, air is entering into the hollow space and allows the suction-cup 2 to jump oi within a certain time which is shorter, the less deep the cup had been pressed down upon the counter-plate I. v In the example according to Fig. 10 a pin 55 serves as a touching part limiting the downward movement of the suction-cup 2. The depth is adjustable by turning the screw 56 which can only be adjusted after removing the push-button 45.

What I claim is: v

1. In a switch of the class described, the combination of a casing, a terminal support arranged in said casing, a plurality of circuit terminals carried by said support, a control member movably arranged in an opening of said casing, a bridging contact connected' to said control member and adapted to be moved into engagement with said circuit terminals, retarding means for maintaining the bridging contact in engagement with the circuit terminals during a predetermined period of time, said retarding means comprising a suction-cup member and a counter-plate member, one of said members being connected to said control member the other one being connected to said support, said control member being depressible to move said bridging contact into engagement with-said circuit terminals and to engage the members of said retarding means with each other thereby forming a hollow chamber within said members, a channel passing through the wall of the suction-cup member and communicating said hollow chamber through said. opening of the casing with the air outside of the latter, a valve plate adapted to be moved against the open end o said channellto determine the amount of air ilowing intosaid hollow space, a screw connected to said control'member, said screw cooperating with said valve plate and being rotatable by a rotation of said control member to move said 'valve plate relatively to said open end of the channel, and a resilient member acting on said retarding means lto instantaneously disengage thev members thereof from each other after a predetermined pressure of the air in said hollow chamber has been reached.

2., In a switch of the class described, the combination of a casing, a terminal support arranged in said casing, a plurality of circuit terminals carried by said support, a control membermovably arranged in an opening of said casing, a bridging contact connected to said control member and adapted to be moved into engagementwith said circuit terminals, retarding means for maintaining the bridging contact in engagement with the circuit terminals during a predetermined period o1 time, said retarding' means comprising a suction-cup member and a counter-plate member, one of said members be-C' ing connected to said control member the other one -being ,connected to said support, said control member being depressible to move said bridging contact into engagement with said circuit'terminals and to engage the members of said retarding meansv with each other" thereby forming a hollow chamber within said members, a channel passing through the wall of the suction-cup member and communicating said hollow chamber through said opening of the cas-- ing with the air outside of the latter, a thread arranged over the Aopen end of said channel to establish a constant leakage, a valve plate adapted to be moved against said thread andI the open end of,sald channel to determine the amount of air owlng into said hollow space, a screw connected to said control member, said screw cooperating with said valve plate and being rotatable by-a rotation of said control member to move said valve plate relatively to said open end of the channel, and a resilient member acting on said retarding means to instantaneously disengage 'the members thereof from eachother after a predetermined pressure of the air in said hollow chamber has been reached.

3. In a switch of the class described, the com- -bination of a casing', a terminal support arranged in said casing, a plurality of circuit terminals carried by said support, a control member movably arranged in an opening of said casing, a bridging contact connected to said control mem ber and adapted to be vmioved into engagement Ywith said circuit terminals, retarding means for maintaining the bridging contact in engagement with the circuit terminals during a predetermined period of time, said retarding means comprising a. suction-cup member and a counterplate member, one. of said members being connected to said control member, the other one being connected to said support, said control tarding means to instantaneously disengage the members thereof from eachother after a predetermined`y pressure of the air in said hollow chamber has been` reached.

4. In a switch of the class described, the combination of a casing, a terminal support arranged member being depressible to move said bridging contact into engagement with said circuit terminals and to engage the members of said retarding means with each other thereby forming a hollow chamber )within said members, a channel comin said casing; a plurality of circuit terminals carried by said support, a control member movably arrangedl in an opening of said casing, a bridging contact connected to said control member and adapted to be moved into engagement with said circuit terminals, retarding means for maintaining the bridging contact in engagement with the circuit terminals during a predetermined period of time, saidretarding means comprising a suction-cup member and a counter-plate member provided with a projecting rim adapted to engage along its outer circumference with the inside of the suction-cup member, one of said members being connected to saidcontrol member the other one being connected to said support, said control member being depressible to move said bridging contact into engagement with said `circuit terminals and to engage the members of said retarding means with each other thereby forming a hollow chamber within said members, a channel communicating said hollow chamber with the air outside of the casing, an

adjustable stop arranged in said casing to limit the relative movement of the members of the retarding means against .each other, and a resilient member acting on said retarding means to instantaneously disengage the members thereof from each other after a predetermined pressure of the air in said hollow chamber has been reached.

5. In a switch ot the class described, the ccmbination of a casing, a terminal support arranged in said casing, a plurality of circuit terminals carried by said support, a control member movably arranged in an opening of said casing, a bridging contact adapted to be moved into engagement with said circuit terminals, resilient means connecting said bridging contact to said control member, retarding means for maintaining the bridging contact in engagement with the circuit terminals during a predetermined period of'timie, said retarding means comprising a suction-cup member and a counter-plate member, one of said members being connected to said control member the other one being connected to said support, said control member being depressible to move said bridging contact after overcoming the force of said resilient connecting .means into engagement with said circuit Vterminals and to engage the members of said retarding means with each other thereby forming a hollow chamber withinv said members, a channel communieating said hollow chamber with the` air outside of the casing, throttling means arranged in said channel to determine the amount of air ilowing into said hollow chamber and a resilient member acting on said retarding means to instantaneously disengage the members thereof fromv each other after a predetermined pressure ofthe air in said hollow chamber has been reached.. y

6. In a switch of the class described, the comblnation of a casing a terminal support arranged in said casing, a plurality lof circuit terminals carried by said support, a control member movably arranged in an opening, of said casing. a bridging contact connected to said control member and adapted to be moved into engagement with said circuit terminals, retarding means for maintaining the bridging contact inl engagement with the circuit terminals during a predetermined period of time. said retarding means comprising av suction-cup member and a counterplate member provided with a projecting rim adapted to engage along` its outer circumference with the inside of the suction-cup member, one of said members being connected to said control member the other one being connected to said support, said control member being depressible to move said bridgingv contact into engagement with said circuit terminals and to engage the members of said retarding means with each other thereby forming a hollow chamber within said members, a lever movably arranged on said support, one end of which projecting through an opening of the casing the other end-of which extending below the edge of the suction-cup member and being adapted to raise same, and a resilient member acting on 4said retarding means to instantaneously disengage the members thereof from each other' after a, predetermined pressure of the air in said hollow chamber has been reached.

'7. In a switch of the class described, the combination of a casing, a terminal support arranged in said casing, a plurality of circuit terminals carried by said support, a control member movably arranged in' an opening of said casing, a bridging contact connected to said control member and adapted to be moved into engagement with said circuit terminals, retarding means for maintaining the bridging contact in engagement with the circuit terminals during a predetermined period of time, said retarding means comprising a. suction-cup member and a counterplate member provided with a projecting rim adapted to engage along its outer circumference with the inside of the suction-cup member, one of said members being connected to said control member the other one being connected to said support, said control member being depressible to move said bridging contact into engagement with said circuit terminals and to engage the members of said retarding means with each other thereby forming a hollow chamber within said members, a channel communicating said hollow chamber with the air outside of the casing, throttling means arranged in said channel to determine the amount of air owing into said hollow chamber, a lever movably arranged on said support, one end of which projecting through an opening of the casing the other end of which extending below the edge of the suction-cup member and being adapted to raise same, and a resilient member acting on said retarding means to instantaneously disengage the members thereof from each other after a predetermined pressure of the air in said hollow chamber has been reached.

LEOPOLD URIGA. 

